Jim Lago Addresses Flour Bluff Business Association

Introduced as a man “whose voice you probably know better than his face,” award-winning radio personality, Jim Lago, addressed the Flour Bluff Business Association at its regular monthly meeting held February 8, 2017, at Funtrackers in Flour Bluff. Lago, a recent inductee of the Texas Radio Hall of Fame hosts “Lago in the Morning” each weekday from 5:30 to 9:00 a.m. on KKTX 1360 in Corpus Christi. Known for his gift of gab on a host of subjects, Lago spoke on many topics, most of which focused on the unique history of the Flour Bluff community, including its struggles with the city and its connection to NAS Corpus Christi.

Lago, a former resident of Flour Bluff from 1987 to 2005, said he always liked living in the Bluff primarily because of the “maverick attitude” that the people of Flour Bluff possess. He told a few stories from his old neighborhood of Turtle Cove, including one that spoke to the issues that still exist in Flour Bluff parks due to neglect, something that the business association and Flour Bluff Citizens Council are working to change. He spoke of how the history of the area is often neglected in the media, as well. He was speaking about Flour Bluff being chosen as the place for NAS Corpus Christi in 1940. Lago reminded everyone of how the relationship between the city and the base should be valued and protected. “They say that when you see a government entity open in your town, you’re one day closer to seeing it close.” Such was the case, he pointed out, with Homeport in Ingleside, Texas, and could be the case for NAS Corpus Christi at some point.

The popular radio host went on to relate the history of the Battle of Midway in WWII led by Lt. Cdr. John C. Waldron, for whom Waldron Road was named. Lago expressed his concern that this piece of American and Flour Bluff history should be more highly publicized and memorialized. He suggested that the FBBA invite Captain F. W. “Rocco” Montesano, USN (Ret.), Executive Director, USS LexingtonMuseum on the Bay to tell the story of Midway, Waldron, the Lexington, and how Flour Bluff and Corpus Christi were affected by them. Lago commended those young Navy pilots who have worked and given their all to show everyone what American Exceptionalism really is. He compared the actions of these young men and women to those who have been rioting and wreaking havoc on the Berkeley University campus. Lago described an “aura of leadership” that he has observed in those who have graduated the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

After relating a few more local stories and making a few jokes about former Mayor Dan McQueen, Lago thanked the FBBA for asking him to address the group. FBBA President Jennifer Welp returned the thanks and awarded Lago with a certificate of appreciation.

Melanie Hambrick, ex officio member of the FBBA board and current chairperson of The Friends of Redhead Pond, explained about a group of volunteers formed for the purpose of enhancing and maintaining the Redhead Pond Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in accordance with the Management Plan of 2016 by and between Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries and Texas Parks and Wildlife. “The WMA was acquired to protect and enhance wintering waterfowl habitat, and has a mission to provide for sound biological conservation of all wildlife resources with emphasis on wetland natural resources while providing public viewing opportunities that are compatible with wildlife use of the site,” Hambrick said. She invited everyone to take part in the clean-up project on February 18, 2017, 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Click here for details. Get updates by visiting: https://www.friendsofredheadpond.org/

Monette Bright of the Flour Bluff PTSA reminded everyone about the 5K run to sponsor Flour Bluff Operation Graduation. The run will start at 8:00 a.m., on March 4, 2017, at Flour Bluff High School located at 2505 Waldron Road. Online registration is available by visiting https://vfitproductions.webconnex.com/fboperationgraduation2017. For more information on all Operation Graduation activities, contact Ms. Bright at 281-507-6041 or monettebright@sbcglobal.net

A representative of Laguna Little League appealed to the members to consider helping the league with much needed capital improvements, including immediate repairs to score boards, backstops, and field lighting. The league has been in existence since 1959, long before Flour Bluff was annexed by the city. It sits on federal property, for which no fee is charged. However, they do not receive any funding from the City of Corpus Christi Parks and Recreation, Nueces County, or NAS Corpus Christi. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Contact information can be found at the following website: http://www.lagunabaseball.org/pages/Board.html

The next FBBA general meeting will be held on March 8, 2017, at noon, at Funtrackers. County Commissioner Brent Chesney will be the keynote speaker.

Retired from education after serving 30 years (twenty-eight as an English teacher and two years as a new-teacher mentor), Shirley enjoys her life with family and friends while serving her community, church, and school in Corpus Christi, Texas. She is the creator and managing editor of The Paper Trail, an online news/blog site that serves to offer new, in-depth, and insightful responses to the events of the day. She also writes and edits for The Texas Shoreline News, a Corpus Christi print newspaper.